He Jialang, an expert in traditional Chinese medicine [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

"Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a valuable asset of the Chinese people, and the best way to keep it going is to carry it forward into the modern era," said He Jialang, a Hangzhou native who has practiced TCM for 30 years in Italy and is a guest professor at the Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

He, 70, was born from a family of TCM practitioners in Hangzhou. Influenced by his father and uncle, He developed a strong interest towards TCM since childhood.

With thousands of years of practice, the natural, holistic healing system includes herbal therapy, acupuncture, massage dietary advice and exercise, and dietary therapy.

After graduating from the Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of TCM, He went to Rome in 1990 when China loosened policies for the foreign exchanges of TCM. With great expectations, He was, however, surprised by what he saw in the European country.

"Italy is by no means a traditional multi-cultural country, for such a long time, there were neither a China Town nor TCM shops, let alone locals knowing about the culture of TCM," He said, adding that much doubts about TCM were raised when he was in academic meetings.

However, the greater the doubts were, the more determined He was to prove the worthiness of TCM to Italians. Starting from healthcare, He developed a set of methods of treatment according to the local weather type and helped a couple successfully conceive a baby with the help of acupuncture and TCM, winning him great recognition from local gynecologists.

In Rome, He is not only a doctor, but also a teacher. In 2004, he lectured on a TCM postgraduate course in the Sapienza University of Rome and explained to foreign students four essential ways of diagnosis in TCM.

With the increasing popularity of TCM in Italy, more and more Italians are beginning to learn and engage in TCM. To date, over 15,000 foreign TCM practitioners have been registered in Italy.